Gillenia
Encyclopedia
Gillenia is a genus
of two species
of perennial
herb
s in the Rosaceae
family. Common names for plants in this genus include: Bowman's root, Indian-physic, American ipecac. This genus is endemic
to dry open woods with acid
ic soils in eastern North America
. Both plants are subshrub
s with exposed semi-woody branches and serrated leaves
; the larger lower leaves are divided into palmately arranged leaflets. Plants bloom
in May, June, or July; blooms are composed of five slender white petal
s which are loosely arranged and typically appear slightly twisted and limp as if they were wilted
. The flowers mature into small capsules. These plants are often planted as ornamentals
and used medicinally as an herbal remedy.
, but it was moved to subfamily Maloideae
, when it became apparent that it comes from the lineage which lead to the Maloideae (which arose from within the Spiraeoideae). More recently, subfamily Spiraeoideae has been expanded to include all of the Maloideae (as well as subfamily Prunoideae
).
Gillenia has a haploid
chromosome number of 9; the rest of the Maloideae have a haploid chromosome number of 17 (which was probably produced from a Gillenia-like ancestor by doubling the genome and then losing a chromosome
). Flower structure and fossil evidence also point to Gillenia sharing distinctive features with the Maloideae. Another similarity between Gillenia and the rest of the Maloideae is susceptibility to Phragmidium
fungus. Differences between Gillenia and most Maloideae include the chromosome number and the latter being solely woody pome
bearing plants (Gillenia is herbaceous).
The name Porteranthus (Britton
ex Small
) has sometimes been used for this genus. The name Gillenia was thought to be already occupied by Gillena, a very similar name used by Michel Adanson
as a synonym for Clethra
(Under the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature "names that are so similar that they are likely to be confused" should be treated as homonyms Art. 53.3-5). However, a proposal to formally conserve Gillenia was mooted after it was determined that Gillena was not validly published and a vote decided that it and Gillenia were not likely to be confused. Thus, Gillenia is the correct name (and Porteranthus was validly published but is superfluous and illegitimate Art. 52.1).
s. In G. stipulata, the stipules at the base of the leaves, which are round and deeply toothed, persist throughout the life of the plant. In G. trifoliata the long slender stipules are quickly deciduous
, this species also tends to have longer leaves and petals.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of two species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of perennial
Perennial plant
A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives for more than two years. The term is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter lived annuals and biennials. The term is sometimes misused by commercial gardeners or horticulturalists to describe only herbaceous perennials...
herb
Herb
Except in botanical usage, an herb is "any plant with leaves, seeds, or flowers used for flavoring, food, medicine, or perfume" or "a part of such a plant as used in cooking"...
s in the Rosaceae
Rosaceae
Rosaceae are a medium-sized family of flowering plants, including about 2830 species in 95 genera. The name is derived from the type genus Rosa. Among the largest genera are Alchemilla , Sorbus , Crataegus , Cotoneaster , and Rubus...
family. Common names for plants in this genus include: Bowman's root, Indian-physic, American ipecac. This genus is endemic
Endemic (ecology)
Endemism is the ecological state of being unique to a defined geographic location, such as an island, nation or other defined zone, or habitat type; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsewhere. For example, all species of lemur are endemic to the...
to dry open woods with acid
Acid
An acid is a substance which reacts with a base. Commonly, acids can be identified as tasting sour, reacting with metals such as calcium, and bases like sodium carbonate. Aqueous acids have a pH of less than 7, where an acid of lower pH is typically stronger, and turn blue litmus paper red...
ic soils in eastern North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. Both plants are subshrub
Subshrub
A subshrub or dwarf shrub is a short woody plant. Prostrate shrub is a similar term.It is distinguished from a shrub by its ground-hugging stems and lower height, with overwintering perennial woody growth typically less than 10–20 cm tall, or by being only weakly woody and/or persisting...
s with exposed semi-woody branches and serrated leaves
Leaf
A leaf is an organ of a vascular plant, as defined in botanical terms, and in particular in plant morphology. Foliage is a mass noun that refers to leaves as a feature of plants....
; the larger lower leaves are divided into palmately arranged leaflets. Plants bloom
Bloom
Bloom or blooming may refer to:-Science and nature:* Bloom, one or more flowers on a flowering plant* Algal bloom, a rapid increase or accumulation in the population of algae in an aquatic system...
in May, June, or July; blooms are composed of five slender white petal
Petal
Petals are modified leaves that surround the reproductive parts of flowers. They often are brightly colored or unusually shaped to attract pollinators. Together, all of the petals of a flower are called a corolla. Petals are usually accompanied by another set of special leaves called sepals lying...
s which are loosely arranged and typically appear slightly twisted and limp as if they were wilted
Wilting
Wilting refers to the loss of rigidity of non-woody parts of plants. This occurs when the turgor pressure in non-lignified plant cells falls towards zero, as a result of diminished water in the cells...
. The flowers mature into small capsules. These plants are often planted as ornamentals
Ornamental plant
Ornamental plants are plants that are grown for decorative purposes in gardens and landscape design projects, as house plants, for cut flowers and specimen display...
and used medicinally as an herbal remedy.
Classification and name
Traditionally this genus is considered a member of subfamily SpiraeoideaeSpiraeoideae
The subfamily Spiraeoideae was traditionally a subfamily of flowering plants within family Rosaceae. The taxonomy of this subfamily has changed several times in the last century as more detailed studies have been carried out...
, but it was moved to subfamily Maloideae
Maloideae
The Maloideae C.Weber are the apple subfamily, a grouping used by some taxonomists within the rose family, Rosaceae. Recent molecular phylogenetic evidence has shown that the traditional Spiraeoideae and Amygdaloideae form part of the same clade as the traditional Maloideae, and the correct name...
, when it became apparent that it comes from the lineage which lead to the Maloideae (which arose from within the Spiraeoideae). More recently, subfamily Spiraeoideae has been expanded to include all of the Maloideae (as well as subfamily Prunoideae
Prunoideae
Amygdaloideae is a subfamily within the flowering plant family Rosaceae. It was formerly considered by some authors to be separate from Rosaceae, and the family names Prunaceae and Amygdalaceae have been used. Commercially, important members of the Amygdaloideae include plum, cherry, apricot,...
).
Gillenia has a haploid
Ploidy
Ploidy is the number of sets of chromosomes in a biological cell.Human sex cells have one complete set of chromosomes from the male or female parent. Sex cells, also called gametes, combine to produce somatic cells. Somatic cells, therefore, have twice as many chromosomes. The haploid number is...
chromosome number of 9; the rest of the Maloideae have a haploid chromosome number of 17 (which was probably produced from a Gillenia-like ancestor by doubling the genome and then losing a chromosome
Aneuploidy
Aneuploidy is an abnormal number of chromosomes, and is a type of chromosome abnormality. An extra or missing chromosome is a common cause of genetic disorders . Some cancer cells also have abnormal numbers of chromosomes. Aneuploidy occurs during cell division when the chromosomes do not separate...
). Flower structure and fossil evidence also point to Gillenia sharing distinctive features with the Maloideae. Another similarity between Gillenia and the rest of the Maloideae is susceptibility to Phragmidium
Phragmidium
Phragmidium is a genus of rust fungus that typically infects plant species in the Rosaceae. It is characterised by having stalked teliospores borne on telia each having a row of four or more cells. All species have a caeoma which is a diffuse aecidium lacking a peridiumThere are a number of...
fungus. Differences between Gillenia and most Maloideae include the chromosome number and the latter being solely woody pome
Pome
In botany, a pome is a type of fruit produced by flowering plants in the subfamily Maloideae of the family Rosaceae.A pome is an accessory fruit composed of one or more carpels surrounded by accessory tissue...
bearing plants (Gillenia is herbaceous).
The name Porteranthus (Britton
Nathaniel Lord Britton
Nathaniel Lord Britton was an American botanist and taxonomist who founded the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx, New York. Britton was born in New Dorp in Staten Island, New York...
ex Small
John Kunkel Small
John Kunkel Small was an American botanist.He was the first Curator of Museums at The New York Botanical Garden, a post in which he served from 1898 until 1906. From 1906 to 1934 he was Head Curator and then from 1934 until his death he was Chief Research Associate and Curator...
) has sometimes been used for this genus. The name Gillenia was thought to be already occupied by Gillena, a very similar name used by Michel Adanson
Michel Adanson
Michel Adanson was a French naturalist of Scottish descent.Adanson was born at Aix-en-Provence. His family moved to Paris on 1730. After leaving the College Sainte Barbe he was employed in the cabinets of R. A. F. Reaumur and Bernard de Jussieu, as well as in the Jardin des Plantes. At the end of...
as a synonym for Clethra
Clethra
Clethra is a genus of between 30-70 species of flowering shrubs or small trees. It is one of two genera in the family Clethraceae...
(Under the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature "names that are so similar that they are likely to be confused" should be treated as homonyms Art. 53.3-5). However, a proposal to formally conserve Gillenia was mooted after it was determined that Gillena was not validly published and a vote decided that it and Gillenia were not likely to be confused. Thus, Gillenia is the correct name (and Porteranthus was validly published but is superfluous and illegitimate Art. 52.1).
Species
The two similar species can be distinguished by their stipuleStipule
In botany, stipule is a term coined by Linnaeus which refers to outgrowths borne on either side of the base of a leafstalk...
s. In G. stipulata, the stipules at the base of the leaves, which are round and deeply toothed, persist throughout the life of the plant. In G. trifoliata the long slender stipules are quickly deciduous
Deciduous
Deciduous means "falling off at maturity" or "tending to fall off", and is typically used in reference to trees or shrubs that lose their leaves seasonally, and to the shedding of other plant structures such as petals after flowering or fruit when ripe...
, this species also tends to have longer leaves and petals.
- G. trifoliataGillenia trifoliataGillenia trifoliata is an ornamental plant in the Rosaceae family.-External links:**...
or Porteranthus trifoliatus -- mountain Indian physic - G. stipulataGillenia stipulataGillenia stipulata is a plant in the genus Gillenia, in the Rosaceae....
or Porteranthus stipulatus -- Indian physic